(42.7) Yǐn Mò 尹默 [Sīqiǎn 思潛]

Yǐn Mò, appellation Sīqiǎn, was a Zǐtóng Fú man. In the Yì[zhōu] schools there were many who valued modern essays but did not esteem old classics. Mò knew they were not widely read, so he traveled far to Jīngzhōu, and studied under Sīmǎ Décāo, Sòng [Zhōng] Zhòngzǐ, and others to learn the ancient classics. In all he learned the classics and historiography, and was particularly proficient in the Zuǒshì Chūnqiū, following Liú Xīn’s regulations, the annotations of Zhèng Zhòng, Jiǎ Kuí father and son, Chén Yuán, Fúqián, and in all he recited and did not rely only on the original.

Xiān-zhǔ [Liú Bèi] settled Yìzhōu [214] and became Governor, he was appointed Advisor on Education, and when an Heir-Apparent was established [219], Mò was appointed as Servant, to teach the Zuǒshì to Hòu-zhǔ [Liú Shàn]. When Hòu-zhǔ ascended, he was appointed Critical-Consultant Official. When Chancellor [Zhūgě] Liàng stationed at Hànzhōng, he was invited as Libationer to the Army. When Liàng died, he returned to Chéngdū, and was appointed Grand Palace Official. He died, and his son Zōng inherited his work, and became an Academician Scholar. (1)

Wèilüè states: His son along with Wèi Fěng plotted rebellion,and so he was executed. The Wèi Heir-Apparent answered Wáng Lǎng’s letter: “In the past Shí Hòu and Zhōu Yù traveled, and Fùquè knew there would be chaos. Hán-zǐ approached Tián Sū, and Mù-zǐ knew he esteemed benevolence. Therefore when superior gentlemen travel they are acting rightly, and where they reside there are scholars, and this can honestly be known. Alas! Sòng Zhōng [Zhòngzǐ] had no Shí-zǐ to first guide him, and so came to this calamity. Now though I wish to wipe out his kin as punishment and raise up the moral integrity of pure ministers, is it not enough?”